The dismantling of Canada’s public radio and television broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada should stop, there should be a moratorium on budget cuts, and a federal inquiry should be started into the management of the public broadcaster. These are the demands of the union representing the broadcaster’s employees in the province of Quebec and the city of Moncton.
In addition, on Tuesday (April 29) Alex Levasseur, the president of the Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada (SCRC) released a “White Paper” on the future of CBC/Radio-Canada to deal with some central questions: “Do we need a national public broadcaster? How should the public broadcaster be funded? How should it be run?” asked Levasseur, saying the point of the White Paper is not to give answers, but to raise questions.
“Obviously, our sole public broadcaster is not only underfunded, but its current governance makes it impossible to fulfil its mandate. We encourage the public, experts, media and all the federal and provincial political parties to show their support and take part in this debate. The CBC/Radio-Canada belongs to us; it’s high time we get a say in its future,” said Levasseur.
According to the union since 2009, more than 2,000 jobs were cut at the national broadcaster. In the latest cuts announced April 10, 657 jobs will be eliminated over two years.
In the 2012 cuts, the broadcaster’s international service, Radio Canada International (RCI) was hit by an 80% budget cut which eliminated 75% of the positions and ended the shortwave radio service, leaving RCI only on its website.
More information:
White Paper full version in English (pdf) – here
White Paper short version in English (pdf) – here
Tous Amis de Radio-Canada on Facebook – www.facebook.com/amisradiocanada
CBC/Radio-Canada budget cut announcement – here
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